oral health

The optimal state of the mouth and normal functioning of the organs of the mouth without evidence of disease.

Our oral health Blogs

Early childhood caries: modifiable risk factors

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This review of evidence pertaining to the effect of modifiable risk factors on early childhood caries(ECC) includes 133 mainly observational data providing moderate certainty evidence that breastfeeding up to 2 y of age does not increase ECC risk , and that providing access to fluoridated water and educating caregivers are justified approaches to ECC

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Intellectual disability and oral health

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This review of on the oral health of community dwelling adults with intellectual disabilities included 33 mainly cross-sectional studies showing a the continuing high prevalence of oral disease and treatment need

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Fluoride varnish for caries prevention in pre-school children

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This review of the effectiveness of fluoride varnish in reducing the risk of new caries in primary teeth included 20 studies suggesting modest effects in pre-school children.

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Tooth loss predictors in periodontal patients

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This review of predictors of tooth loss in patients with periodontitis undergoing treatment and receiving supportive care included 20 studies. Findings suggest older, non‐compliant patients, smokers, diabetics, those with IL‐1‐polymorphism, and teeth with bone loss, high probing pocket depths, mobility, as well as molars, especially with furcation involvement, are at higher risk of tooth loss.

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Anti-plaque agents in toothpaste: Are they helpful in managing gingivitis?

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This review of the efficacy of different anti-plaque chemical agents in managing gingivitis included 32 RCTS of toothpastes and 19 of mouthrinses suggested greater benefits with some agents.

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Dental fear and anxiety: Is it related to negative oral health beliefs?

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Media coverage of the paper by Davies and Read was emotive and damning in terms of the dangers of antidepressant medication.

This review of the evidence on the relationship of oral health beliefs with dental fear and anxiety included 10 studies and suggests that patients with negative health beliefs are more likely to suffer with dental fear and anxiety.

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Distraction techniques for managing dental anxiety in children and adolescents

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This review assessing whether distraction techniques reduce children’s/adolescent’s anxiety and fear during dental treatment included 20 RCTs providing very low certainty evidence that these techniques have a positive effect.

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Oral hygiene programmes for people with intellectual disabilities

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This Cochrane review of oral hygiene interventions for people with intellectual difficulties included 34 studies (19 RCTs, 15 non-randomised studies) find some interventions provided benefits but their clinical importance was unclear.

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Geographic tongue and psoriasis

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This review assessing the prevalence of geographic tongue in psoriatic and non-psoriatic patients includded 11 cas-controlled studies. Meta-analysis showed that the odds of having geographic tongue in patients with psoriasis was higher OR = 3.53 (95%CI; 2.56-4.86).

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Panoramic radiography and calcified carotid artery atheroma detection

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This review of the diagnostic accuracy of panoramic radiography (PR) in the detection of calcified carotid artery atheroma (CCAA) suggests that PR has good dianostic accuracy compared with Doppler ultrasonograph.

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